Luxembourg's special ice rescue services

It was in Lultzhausen at the Civil Protection’s “water emergency” base that frogmen from emergency services held a presentation of new equipment for ice rescue in Luxembourg.

14.03.2012

(ADW) It was in Lultzhausen at the Civil Protection’s “water emergency” base that frogmen from emergency services held a presentation of new equipment for ice rescue in Luxembourg. It’s aim: to respond quickly and safely to accidents. Four such bases are located throughout the territory

Jean-Marie Halsdorf, the Interior Minister, and Michel Feider, Director of Administration for Emergency Services, both attended Monday’s presentation of new equipment for ice rescue named ERS1. A system that closely resembles an air mattress.

It inflates in minutes and includes a reinforced base allowing it to slide easily on ice. With a length of 2.36 m and a width of 1.30 m, it weighs only 10 kg and can be folded up and stored in a bag.

This means that the rescuer can safely retrieve a victim fallen in water through ice by hoisting them on one end the mattress designed for this purpose. In this type of intervention, that occurs mostly in extreme conditions, every minute counts and the victim must be secured as soon as possible. From shore, boat, water or ice, this method of rescue does not place the rescuer in danger.

This new equipment is stored at the Lultzhausen dam, allowing divers from the Civil Protection services as well as local firefighters, to use it. A second is located in Luxembourg City, with the fire department.

A third is kept in a police helicopter and a final in the hands of the Luxembourg Air Rescue. Roland Disiviscour said that several systems had been tested by the emergency services but ultimately the choice went with the ERS1. The speed of its deployment, its small size and weight made all the difference.